Soda-tank for dipping lumber.



-W. C. & W. H. TROUT.

SODA TANK FOR DIPPING LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Q/Vi In mam may/M WWW W. C. & W. H. TROUT.

SODA TANK FOR DIPPING LUMBER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 21 2x71 tn eases wan-run cnmr'zs moor, or'nurxm, TEXAS,-

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO SAID CHARLES TROU'.l AND LUFKIN MACHINE COMPANY; A CORPORATION OF '1.

sona-r ron. mrrme uiunnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, an.

Application filed September 20, 1909.- Serial No. 518,581.

To all whom it may concern:

kin, Texas, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, respectively, have invented a Soda-Tank for a specification. I

Yellow pine lumber in its natural state is subject to what is known as blue stainv under certain conditions, .and to prevent this it is customary to-immerse the green lumber in a solution of bicarbonate of. soda. The means for doing this, as heretofore carried out, have comprised an elongated tank, into which the lumber is dipped and floated toward inclined chains which carry the lumber out of the tank. Such an apparatus, however, has the advantage that the solution becomes splashed over the operatives, platform, and surrounding objects, and requires one or more men to keep the lumber from floating crosswise and holding it in proper posit-ion to be taken up by the chains. The object of our invention is to provide an improved apparatus which will not simply float the lumber, but thoroughly immerse it, dispense with allmanual assistance whatever, and keep the lumber. in perfect alinement at all times.

Furthermore we aim to produce an appa- 'ratus which will take all sizes of lumber, and which will not spill or splash the solution.

To these ends our invention comprises, in general, a tank-having conveying chains and guides positioned above the lumber and actmg to depress the lumber into the solution and hold it there until it asses out at the other side of the tank. e also provide means for removin superfluous liquid which would otherwise carried out with the lumber by capilarity and dropped upon the conveying apparatus and floor beyond the limits of the tank.

Our invention further comprises the particular constructions and oombmations which will be hereinafter more particularly de scribed and set forth in our claims.

tion; Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough taken on the plane'2 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the end-portion ofa more im- I merals in each figure. Dipping Lumber, of which the following is proved form of,tank; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section therethrough. i

In these drawings the same part is-designated by the same reference letters or nu- Referring first to the simple form shown in Sheet 1 of the drawings, upon a suitable framework of longitudinal and transverse beams A, B is mounted a tank C, preferably of sheet metal, the two sides preferably dipping toward a vertex 0 to which a fillingspace and drain-pipe system D is attached, arranged in any suitable manner. The edges of the tank are provided with upright or inturned flanges c to prevent spilling of the liquid. Along the sides at suitableintervals within the flanges 0 are mounted a series of pedestals E, F which carry bearing-boxes e f in which turn respectively a plurality of short shafts G and a single driving-shaft H. On each of'the shafts G is mounted a sprocket-wheel g, and on the shaft H are mounted a correspondingly disposed set of sprocket-wheels h; and carrying-chains I are mounted to turn on these sprockets, said chains being sufficiently slack to allow both. laps to dip into the solution in the tank, as shown.

Longitudinally across the center of the tank are mounted a pair of beams j, which support curved lumber-guides J, disposed preferably one over each chain and dipping into the solution in the tank. The guides J are preferably made of flexible steel bands. Thelinks ofthe chains I are rovided with teeth or similar projections a, which seize upon the lumber K as it is dropped upon the chains and propel it forward, carrying it under the guides J and therefore immerse it in and carry it through the solution in the tank and raise it at the other side out of the solution. Before leaving the tank the superfluous liquid is removed by a plurality of wipers M which are in the form of palmetto brushes m onshafts m carried by -'e pedestals F and the lower end of which is weighted so as to hold the brushes pressed against the planks as they'pass along over it.

The apparatus will ordinarily be arranged inconnection with conveying belts N, which deliver the lumber over guides n to the chains I on the infeed side of the tank, and injconnection with delivery belts 0 upon which the lumber is dropped from the chains as it falls'ofi the delivery-end of the latter upon guides P. The driving-shaft H may be turned by means of a sprocket-wheel 72, on one end, or any other suitable means.

The length of the tank and the number of chains will, of course, depend upon the length of the planks and other lumber to be treated. It will be observed that all of the moving apparatus isrlocated within or immediately over the tank, and therefore none of the drippings from the solution can fall outside. The slacking of the chain allows different thicknesses of lumber to be carried through without trouble, as each plank as soon as it strikes the solution tends to float and is therefore turned to a horizontal position in which the edge can be caught by the teeth 2''.

In the more elaborate form of the tank which we have shown in Sheet 2 of the drawings, the construction is similar to that already described, and hence the same parts are designated with the same referencenumerals, except for the guides and their mountin s which are differently arranged,

In this orm of ourinvention we make the guides vertically movable so as to adapt the machine to handle-any of the different sizes of sawed lumber. On each end of the tank are mounted a pair of grooved standards Q, and the guides J are independently mounted upon a framework consisting of longitudinal beams y' and transverse bars j, 7'. At each corner of the frame is secured a fin or flange j, which runs in the groove of the corresponding standard Q. the edges of said fins being convexly curved so I that the frame as a whole may rise on either side independently of the other side. On the infeed side the guides J are formed with an extension 7' which prevents their ends from getting caught against the edge of a piece of lumber in case it should be tilted in the reverse direction from that of the drawing. It will be seen that, in this arrangement, the

' sticks of lumber are always held down against the chain. and whenever an extra heavy piece is fed in, the guides rise to accommodate it, first at one side and then at the other, so that no strain is put upon the 'chains, and furthermore the lumber is always held in contact with the latter.

While we have hereinabove shown the most improved form of our invention, we wish it understood that not all of the features are essential thereto or necessarily made in the exact form shown, but various changes and modifications in theconstructions as herein shown may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we wish it understood therefore that the latter is not otherwise limited than by the reasonable scope-of our claims.

Having thus described our invention,

what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a dipping-tank for lumber, in combination with a conveying-device adapted to carry lumberout of said tank, means for removing the superfluous liquid from the lumber after it leaves the solution and beasses out of the tank; said means fore it comprislng a brush disposed below the path of said lumber and in position for wiping the lower .side thereof.

2. In a dipping-tank for lumber. in combination with a conveying-device adapted to carry lumber out of said tank, means for removing the superfluous liquid from the lumber after it leaves the solution and before it passes out of the tank; said means comprising a pivotally mounted brush disposed below the path of the lumber, said brush pointing upward in position to wipe the lower face of the lumber as it passes from the brush and being weighted so as to maintain said brush yieldingly in position.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a flattened tank adapted to hold a chemical solution, a plurality of journalbearings mounted on each side of and direetly over said tank, a driving-shaft turning in the bearings set on one side of said tank, a plurality of sprocket-wheels turning on said shaft, a second set of sprocketwheels turning in a shaft in the-bearings on the other side of the tank, conveying-chains disposed transversely across said tank and each carried on a sprocket-wheel on each side, said chains being sufiiciently slack so that both laps thereof dip into the solution therein, and a Wiper comprising a brush disposed below the path of the lumber at the delivery side of the tank and. at a point above the level of the solution, said brush being directed upward in a position to wipe the lower face of the lumber as it passes over said brush.

.4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a tank of flattened V-shaped section adapted to hold a solution, a pipe disposed at the apical angle of said tank for filling and draining the same, upright flanges at the edges of said tank adapted to retain the liquid therein, a plurality of pedestals disposed within said flanges at each side of said tank, the pedestals at one side being opposite those of the other, sprocketwheels carried by the several pedestals, means for driving the sprocket-wheels on one side, slack conveying-chains extending across the tank and mounted on sprocketwheels on opposite sides, the ends of the chains bein above the solution and the middle portion of each lap depending into the solution, a plurality of curved guides disposed transversely over said tank mid way between the sides thereof and dipping into the solution therein, said guides coacting with said chains to hold the lumber in contact therewith whereby said chains carry it below said guides and cause it to be immersed in the solution as it passes from one side of the tank to the other, and one or more. yieldingly mounted wiperbrushes disposed at the side of said tank between the chains: and above the level of the liquid, said brushes being adapted to wipe the lower face of the lumber as it is carried out of said tank by said chains.

5. The combination of a dipping-tank, a

carrier disposed below the surface of the solution havlng continuous motion 1n one direction, and one or more guides working above said tank and adapted to depress the lumber which passes under it and hold itsolution having continuous motion in one direction, and one or more guides working above said tank and adapted to depress the lumber which passes under it and hold it in contact with said carrier, said guide or guides having a rising and fallingand also a tilting movement whereby they are caused to rest upon the lumber being treated independently of its size.

7. The combination with a dipping-tank for lumber, ,of an endless carrier disposed below the surface of the solution therein and having means for advancing pieces of lumber which are brought into contact therewith, and means for depressing the lumber into said solution and upon said carrier, said means comprising rising and falling guides which normally rest upon sald lumber.

8. The combination with a dipping-tank for lumber of an endless carrier disposed below the surface of the solution therein and having means for advancing pieces of lumber which are brought into contact therewith, andone' or more rising and falling guides mounted above said tank in position to depress the lumber and hold it against said carrier, a framework on which said guide or guides are mounted, and means for guiding said framework in, its rising and falling movement.

9. The combination with a dipping-tank for lumber of an endless carrier, disposed below the surface of the solution therein and two pairs of vertical standards one pair of which is mounted on each end of said tank, a frame'having a pair of fins at each end which are adapted to engage in grooves in said standards permitting the frame to rise and fall therein, and one or more guides for the lumber mounted on said frame and disposed parallel to the movement of said carrier. r

10. In a. device of the class described, a tank for liquid of flattened V-shape, open at the top adapting it for use with a conveyer,

closed at the ends and having marginal flanges at right angles to the sloping sides of the bottom, whereby the liquid contained in the tank is prevented from spilling and waves striking thereagainst are reflected back into the tank combined with aconveyer mounted in said tank.

11. In a device of the class described, a tank for lhglllld open at the top to adapt it for use wit a conveyer, said tank being formed of a metal sheet bent at the center to form a diedral angle, said sheet forming a bottom of flattenedV-shape, side sheets closing the otherwise open ends of said bot tom-sheet, and marginal flanges on the horizontal edges of said sheet substantially at right angles to the sheet combined with a conveyer mounted in said tank.

12. In a device of the class described, a tank for liquid open at the top to adapt it for use with a'conveyer, said tank being formed of a metal sheet bent at the center to form a diedral angle, said sheet forming a bottom of flattened ll-shape, side sheets closing the otherwise open ends of said bottom-sheet, and marginal flanges on the horizontal edges of said sheet substantially at right angles to the sheet, in conjunction.

with a, drain and supply-pipe opening at the diedral angle, of said sheet combined with a conveyer mounted in said tank.

13. A tank of flattened \l-shaped cross section open at the top for the full width of the tank to adapt it for use with a conveyer, said tank consisting of a metal sheet bent at the center to form a diedral angle and two angle-bars each secured by one flange to the respective sloping edges whereby the other flange of each stands upwardly sloping inward'and at a right angle to the sloping side combined with a conveyor mounted in said tank.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this third day of September, 1909 in the presence of two witnesses.

- WALTER CHARLES TROUT.

WILLIAM HENRY TROUT. Witnesses for W. C. Trout:

RAoHEL GoLDsToNE, FRED. J. LUCK.

Witnesses for W. H. Trout:

GEORGE WETMORE CoLLEs, FLoRENoE' REINHOLD. 

